Fire-pot-reducing attachment for furnaces.



PATENTED JUNE 27, 1905.

0. STILPHEN. FIRE POT REDUCING ATTACHMENT FOR FURNACES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 25, 1904.

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(/5 $275 rne y.

wizfnessess UNTTED STATES PATENT Patented June 27, 1905.

FFICEO CHARLES M. STILPHEN, OF NE\V'.ON, UASSAGHUSEITS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- llA LF TO CHARLES E. UPHAM, ()F NE\\"1TON, MASSAUHUSETTS.

FlRE-POT-REDUCING ATTACHMENT FOR FURNACES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 793,326, dated June 27, 1905.

Application filed October 25,1904. Serial No. 229,902.

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13c itknown that l,(.ilIAl-1LIGS M. S'riLrunx,of Newton, in the county of Middlesexand State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Pot-Reducing i-\ttachments for Furnaces, of which the follmving is a specification.

A furnace or other heater which is of sufficiently large size to heat a large house or other building during extreme cold weather has a fire-pot of large capacity to receive the large body of coal required to maintain the desired temperature during such extreme weather. At certain seasons of the year, notably in the spring and autumn, itis often desired tomaintain a moderate heat only. \Vith a large furnace or heater or one having a large lire-pot it is difficult to run a fire at all without giving more heat than is desired at such times, and this is also attended by a large consumption of fuel. In some cases two or more independent small furnaces are installed for combined use in cold weather and one only is used during moderate cold; but this involves expense of more than one furnace.

The object of the present invention is to provide means by which the fire-pot may be easily reduced in dimension duringsuch period as desired, and thereby reduce the amount of fuel required and restored to its full capacity, when desired.

The invention consists in an attachment which may be readily inserted into the lirepot to close a portion of the fire-space, and thereby adapt it for use of a smaller body of coal. and which can be readily removed when the full lire-space is wanted.

The invention will now be fully described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the claims at the close of the specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation ofa furnace, partly broken away,embodying the invention sectioned through the firepot and reducing attachment. Fig. 2 is a see tion on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the bottom plate of the device. Fig. 4 isa detail perspective view of l l l thevcrticalpartitionplatcofthedevice. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective of the top plate of the device. 7

Referring now to the drawings, 1 represents the upper outside casing of a furnace, 2 the lower partof the casing, and 3 the wall of the firepot. The grates are usually made so that one portion can be dumped independently of another portion. in the form shown the grate-bars work in pairs. The grate-barsS work together, the grate-bar at having a projecting stem & to receive a crank and being geared to the grate-bar 5, so that turning the bar i will also turn the bar The grate-bars 6 T also work together, the grate-bar 6 having a stem 6 to receive a crank. The cogs are not shown, being of well-known form of construction.

The reducing attachment shown consists of three plates at bottom plate 8, vertical partition-plateQ, and top plate --with means for fastening them together. The bottom plate 8 and top plate 10 are shaped to lit the interior of one-half of the fire-pot. In the form shown the lire-pot is cylindrical, and therefore the bottom and top plates are semicircular. The semicircular side of the bottom plate rests on a ledge 11, formed on theinncr side ofthe wall of the lire-pot, and is provided with lugs 12, which extend down through the openings in the grate, thereby preventing displacement of the bottom plate either by revolving or by lateral movement. The vertical partition-plate 9 is then attached to the bottom plate. ,It should extend up about to the top of the lire-pot say about to the feedopening. The preferred method of attaching the partition-plate to the bottom plate is as follows: The bottom plate is formed with a row of holes 13 near the straight edge, and the partition-plate is formed with a series of lugs or pins 1%, which fit into said holes 13. It is also preferred to have a brace-rod 15, which may be secured at the ends to the partition-plate and to the bottom plate by screwbolts 1G 17 and nuts, the said plates being formed with holes 18 19, respectively, for passage of the bolt. The top plate 10 rests on the ledge 20 in the wall of the lire-pot and is formed with a row of holes 21 near the straight edge to receive lugs or pins 22 on the upper edge of the partition-plate. In assembing the parts the bottom plate is first placed in position on the grate with the semicircular side resting on the ledge 11 on the wall of the tirepot and with the lugs 12 extending down through the grate. The brace-rod 15 may then be inserted and the lower end bolted to the bottom plate, or it might be bolted to the bottom plate before inserting it. The vertical plate 9 is then introducedand set in position, with the pins in the lower edge engaging with the holes in the bottom plate. The upper end of the brace 15 may then be fastened to the vertical plate by the screw-bolt 16, as can be easily done, before the top plate is put into place. The top plate 10 is then placed into position, the pins of the upper edge of the plate 9 engaging with the holes in the plate 10 and the semicircular edge of the plate 10 resting on the ledge 20 of the fire-pot. Thus the right hand half of the fire-pot is entirely shut off and closed, so that the left-hand half only is in use. The grates belonging to the portion of the fire-pot which is in use can be dumped without disturbing the remaining portion. The fire-pot thus being reduced in size, a much smaller body of coal is required to keep a lire going than when the whole area is in use. WVhen it is desired to utilize the full capacity of the fire-pot, the fire in the open half can be dumped and as soon as cooled off the partitions can be readily removed.

It is obvious that the particular form of partitions and means of securing them in position may be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention.

WVhat I claim is 1. A furnace or other heater having in combination with a fire-pot, a detachable device for reducing the [ire-space, said device comprising a vertical partition-plate which divides the fire-pot, a bottom plate adapted to cover a portion of the grate and provided with lugs adapted to extend down between the gratebars to hold the plate in position, the fire-pot having a ledge which forms a support for the outer edge of the said plate above the grate, a top plate, and a ledge in the wall of the lirepot which together with said vertical plate supports said top plate, said plates all being so constructed that the vertical plate is adapted for detachable connection with said top and bottom plates, said three plates in combination with the wall of the fire-pot entirely shutting off from use a portion of the fire-space.

2. A detachable device for reducing the tirespace in furnaces and other heaters comprising a bottom plate adapted to cover a portion of the grate adjacent to one side of the firepot and extending from front to rear thereof and provided with lugs adapted to engage openings between the grate-bars, a vertical plate and a top plate, said plates being so constructed that the vertical plate is adapted to be detachably connected with said top and bottom plates, said plates being fitted to combine with the wall of the fire-pot to entirely shut off at will a portion of the fire-space.

3. A detachable device for reducing the firespace in furnaces and other heaters, comprising a bottom plate adapted to cover a portion of the grate adjacent to one side of the irepot and extending from front to rear thereof and provided with lugs adapted to engage openings between the grate-bars, a vertical plate, and a top plate, said vertical plate being detachabl y connected with the top and bottom plates by means of pins projecting from the upper and lower edges of said vertical plate and engaging with holes in the top and bottom plates.

4. Adetachable device for reducing the fire space in furnaces and other heaters comprising a bottom plate adapted to cover a portion of the grate adjacent to one side of the firepot and extending from front to rear thereof and provided with lugs adapted to engage openings between the grate-bars, a vertical plate and a top plate, said vertical plate being detachably connected with said top and bottom plates by means of pins projecting from the upper and lower edges of said vertical plate and engaging with holes in the top and bottom plates, and a bracerod detachably connected with said vertical plate and said bottom plate.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES M. STILPHEN.

itnesses:

WILLIAM A. COPELAND, ROBERT \VALLAOE. 

